Inverted bowl shaped ultrasound probe structure of guiding the puncture needle

Abstract

An ultrasound probe structure dedicated for guiding the puncture needle. It has a passage in the center of the structure and the diameter of the passage is equal to the outer diameter of puncture needle. The bony and non-bony tissues can be distinguished according to the strength of the echoes so that the puncture needle can be guided to avoid hitting the bony tissue before or during insertion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ultrasound probe structure, comprising:
 an ultrasound probe housing, configured to have a hollow passage in a center thereof, wherein the hollow passage is allocated disposed with a central line aligned along with a central line of the ultrasound probe housing and configured for a puncture needle configured to be placed inside and pass through coaxially; 
 a plurality of transducers, arranged within the ultrasound probe housing and surrounding the hollow passage, the plurality of transducers configured to have at least two different aperture diameters and operation frequencies, 
 wherein each of the transducers is configured as a spherical inverted bowl shape, or an inverted curved ring shape, with a respective radius of curvature configured to have its center of curvature located at a respective point on the central line of the ultrasound probe housing, the plurality of transducers configured to have at least two different radii of curvature; 
 wherein the aperture diameter, the radius of curvature, and the operation frequency of each of the transducers are designed or adjusted wherein each of the transducers is configured to have a respective focal zone centered at the center of curvature and configured to have a focal length along the central line of the hollow passage and a focal width across the central line of the hollow passage; 
 wherein the focal zones of the plurality of transducers in combination form an overall detection range for the ultrasound probe structure, wherein the overall detection range is configured to be longer and covers a larger space than the focal zone of any of the transducers, and the puncture needle configured to be guided, by at least one of the transducers at any time as it passes through the hollow passage, for an overall depth corresponding to the overall detection range; and 
 wherein the focal width of the focal zone of each of the transducers is adjusted by the f number and the operation frequency, wherein the f number is defined as r i /2a i , r, is the radius of curvature of the transducer, and 2a i , is the aperture diameter of the transducer. 
 
     
     
       2. The ultrasound probe structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the hollow passage is configured to have a diameter corresponding according to a diameter of the puncture needle. 
     
     
       3. The ultrasound probe structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lateral resolution of each of the transducers is improved by increasing the operation frequency of the transducer.